Colbert Recovers From Cancer Scare

INSIDE GOLF

October 12, 1997|By Jeff Babineau of The Sentinel Staff

The Senior Tour could use a good boost, and it will get one later this week in Hawaii. Jim Colbert, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer less than four months ago and didn't expect to play again until 1998, will be playing in the Hyatt Regency Maui Kaanapali Classic, which begins Friday.

Colbert returned to competition in an unofficial event last week, teaming with Nick Price and Kelly Robbins to win the Gillette Tour Challenge in Bermuda. He's planning to play the final three regular-season stops on the Senior Tour with the goal of making a fourth event, the Senior Tour Championship.

Although he hasn't played since late June, Colbert still ranks 26th on the Senior Tour's money list, and the top 30 will make the Tour Championship. Colbert, 56, who led the money list in each of the past two seasons, figured playing on tour for a million dollars a week sure beats practicing at home.

''How many times do those fighters unretire?'' he asked.

Cancer has been an ugly opponent on the Senior PGA Tour this season. Arnold Palmer was diagnosed in January, and in the months to follow, Colbert, Larry Gilbert and Bruce Devlin have learned they have the disease. Former LPGA player Kathy Ahern died of cancer last year, and last week stomach cancer claimed the life of popular television commmentator Dave Marr.

''Have I stepped back to appreciate life?'' Colbert asked. ''No question about it. I asked myself things like, 'How much money do you need? How can I maintain my lifestyle if I retire?' Things like that. I can't worry about those things right now, though. I'm just going to play.''

With the Ryder Cup now behind him, U.S. captain Tom Kite has turned his attention back to his own golf game after not having played in a month. Kite has competed on seven Ryder Cup teams, and has been on winning teams as well as losing ones. He does know this: The sting of losing as captain hurts more than the sting of losing as a player. ''I don't think there is any question about it,'' he said. ''In a number of those matches where we lost, I played well. And even though you go in as a team and you work as a team and you win or lose as a team, if you play well, you've got that little bit of consolation in that. You know, 'We didn't win, but dadgum, I played well, and I really did all I can do.' . . . I certainly know I got a heck of a lot more sleep as a player than I did as a captain.'' Kite is 30th on the money list and wants to make the Tour Championship in his home state of Texas, but won't be playing at Disney this week. ''I've got a commitment and I just cannot get out of it,'' he said. ''In my four weeks off, I dropped a significant amount. I think I was 25th on the list, and now I'm 30th. So I have some catching up to do.''

Among the pros scheduled to play at Disney as part of the Olds Scramble finals at Eagle Pines and Magnolia on Monday: Fulton Allem, Brad Bryant, Robert Gamez, John Mahaffey, Tom Purtzer, and Scott Simpson. The tentative field for Tuesday's Gillette Challenge (Magnolia, 3 p.m.) includes Bryant, Gamez, Mark Brooks, Lee Janzen, Len Mattiace and Jeff Maggert. Tom Lehman and Tim Herron may be added. . . . The 12-under-par 60 fired by Orlando's Steve Lowery last Sunday at the Buick Challenge was the best round on the PGA Tour since Orlando's Grant Waite shot 60 at Phoenix last season. ''When I shot 7 under (29) on the front, I had the mind-set that I wasn't going to be happy with that,'' Lowery said. Lowery did not have a putt to tie the PGA Tour all-time scoring mark of 59.

Here's further news on the Tiger Woods/Michael Jordan/Ken Griffey Jr./Kevin Costner golf match scheduled for Orlando's Isleworth Country Club in early December. All the players will be miked, like the Skins Game. The winning side will receive $300,000 for charity; the losing side will take home $150,000. The event is expected to be open to Isleworth members only. . . . The Deacon Jones Hall of Fame Golf Classic, featuring 36 NFL Hall of Famers - including Mel Blount, Otto Graham, Ray Nitschke, Leroy Kelly, Gale Sayers, Charley Taylor, Johnny Unitas, Larry Little and Paul Warfield - will be played Dec. 10-11 at Disney's Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines. Entry fee is $1,775. All proceeds will go to the Deacon Jones Foundation. Details: (407) 599-0792.